One year ago – almost to the day –
Etiwanda (Calif.) beat
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 69-57 to claim the CIF Southern Section Open Division title. The Trailblazers would exact revenge 11 days later with a nine-point win over Etiwanda on their way to a CIF Open Division title.
No. 9 Etiwanda has the chance Saturday to repeat as Southern Section champions when it meets No. 1 Sierra Canyon at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The 29-2 Eagles are led by junior
Kennedy Smith, who was sensational in the final pool play win over a scrappy Mater Dei (Santa Ana) squad. Point guard
Aliyahna Morris along with
Majesty Cade and
Sa'lah Hemingway provide good balance for head coach Stan Delus' squad.
Sierra Canyon steamrolled through pool play as it has done all season en route to a 29-0 mark. USC commit and the nation's top prospect
Juju Watkins leads the way and the Trailblazers complement her with
MacKenly Randolph,
Izela Arenas and
Crystal Wang.
The winner has the upper hand in what will be a stacked Southern California regional bracket, but both teams will advance to CIF Open Division play.
New Jersey rivals California with three teams in the top 10 as No. 7
St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), No. 8
Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.) and No. 10
Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.) all head to the postseason looking for titles. The Garden State dropped its Tournament of Champions after last year, but St. John-Vianney and Paul VI appear to be on a collision course in the South Jersey Non-Public A bracket. Morris Catholic is the No. 2 seed in the North Jersey Non-Public B bracket.
No. 24
Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) and No. 25
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) join the rankings this week.
Etiwanda junior Kennedy Smith looks to lead the No. 9 Eagles into a Southern Section Open Division finals win over No. 1 Sierra Canyon. Last season, Etiwanda beat Sierra Canyon in the section finals before the Trailblazers went on to win the state title. (Photo: Justin Fine)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: 1
Watkins poured in 29 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in an 89-45 win over Sage Hill (Newport Beach) to win their pool in the Southern Section Open Division. Randolph had 15, Arenas added 15 and
Leia Edwards 10. In an 80-18 win over Ontario Christian (Ontario), Watkins had 32 and 17.
2. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 2
The Quakers grabbed a pair of 20-plus point league wins last week and close out the regular season Tuesday against 19-4 Georgetown Visitation Prep (Washington, D.C.).
3. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 3
Expected to participate in GEICO Nationals next month.
4. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
Record: 17-2 |
Last week: 4
Kayleigh Heckel led four players in double figures with 21 points and 10 assists in a double-up win over East New York Family Academy (Brooklyn). The Lancers wrap up the regular season with games Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
5. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
Record: 26-3 |
Last week: 5
Arizona commit
Jada Williams led the way with 23 points in an 81-32 win over Scripps Ranch (San Diego) in the San Diego Section Open Division opener. Wednesday's semifinal features Mission Hills (San Marcos), who the Torreys beat 73-53 on Feb. 4.
6. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 6
A senior night win boosted the program's win streak to 93 with one regular-season game remaining Tuesday against Burroughs (St. Louis). The win streak could hit 100 if IWA is able to roll through the postseason and win Division 6.
7. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 7
North Carolina commit
Zoe Brooks was out with an ankle injury against Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank) but the Lancers got 19 from freshman
Madison Kocis and 17 from center
Ashley Sofilkanich to win their 16th Shore Conference title.
8. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 8
Sophomore
Mia Pauldo scored 29 points and passed the 1,000-career point mark as the Crusaders downed Montville 62-51 to grab the Morris County Championship.
9. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 10
Smith dropped 26 and 11 on Mater Dei in the Southern Section Open Division pool play finale over a scrappy Mater Dei squad.
10. Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.)
Record: 19-2 |
Last week: 13
Idle last week but begin the New Jersey Non-Public A tournament on Friday against the Mount St. Mary-Notre Dame winner. A showdown with No. 7 St. John-Vianney looms in a March 1 final.
11. The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tenn.)
Record: 29-4 |
Last week: 11
A 62-34 win over Middle Tennessee Christian gave the Feet a region championship. They begin their quest for a Division II-A title with a Friday meeting against the Fayette Academy-Silverdale winner.
12. Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 12
A 30-point win over Caruthers set up a semifinal meeting with Buchanan (Clovis) in the Central Coast Section postseason.
13. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 32-1 |
Last week: 14
The Bucs have a 7A semifinal date with Bob Jones (Madison) on Tuesday after handling James Clemens (Madison) 50-20.
14. Hazel Green (Ala.)
Record: 33-1 |
Last week: 15
Leah Brooks had 26 points and 11 boards in a 61-47 win over Mortimer Jordan (Kimberly) in the 6A second round. The Trojans take on Clay-Chalkville (Pinson) in the quarters on Wednesday. Tim Miller's bunch is looking for their sixth straight state crown.
15. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 16
Morgan Cheli scored a game-high 22 points, leading four players in double figures in a Central Coast Section Open Division pool play game against Crystal Springs Upland (Hillsborough). The junior has missed much of the season with injuries and gives the Monarchs a boost as they look to get back to the CIF Open Division final.
16. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 27-3 |
Last week: 17
ZaKiyah Johnson scored 27 and
Reagan Bender added 20 as the Valkyries handled Bullitt East (Mt. Washington) and now head into Kentucky's winner-take-all postseason beginning with a 27th District semifinal meeting with Highlands Latin (Louisville).
17. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 19-3 |
Last week: 18
Unbeaten against in-state opponents, the Knights head into Thursday's 6A playoff opener against the Corner Canyon-Pleasant Grove winner as favorites to grab their second straight title.
18. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 19
Reached the state semifinals with an 83-50 win over Oak Ridge (Orlando) as junior guard
Trinity Turner led the way with a game-high 32 points. Miami is up next on Friday with a possible finals pairing with Winter Haven or Colonial.
19. Conway (Ark.)
Record: 24-5 |
Last week: 20
Chloe Clardy led the way in a 68-39 win over Central (Little Rock), avenging their only in-state loss this season. The Wampus Cats celebrate senior night Thursday against Bryant before heading to the postseason.
20. Mason (Ohio)
Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 21
Thirteen players scored in a 67-8 win over Northwest (Cincinnati) in the Southwest 2 Sectional bracket. Mason draws Loveland on Tuesday with a final on Saturday against either Beavercreek or Springboro.
21. Piedmont (Calif.)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 22
The Highlanders rolled over Lick-Wilmerding (San Francisco) in a North Coast Section Division IV quarterfinal. They have McKinleyville on Wednesday with a possible meeting with Branson (Ross), which won last year's CIF Division IV title.
22. Monterey (Lubbock, Texas)
Record: 30-3 |
Last week: 23
Sophomore
Aaliyah Chavez had 34 points while
Jaelyn Morrison added 18,
Kelly Mora chipped in 14 and freshman
Ambrosia Cole scored 11 in a 46-point win over Burges (El Paso), advancing to the 5A regional quarterfinals against Amarillo on Tuesday.
23. Desert Vista (Phoenix)
Record: 26-3 | Last week: 24
The Thunder reached the Open Division final four beating Salpointe Catholic (Tucson) 66-48. They battle No. 4 seed Xavier College Prep (Phoenix) on Thursday with a potential March 4 final showdown against No. 2 seed Perry (Gilbert).
24. Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: NR
After beating Edmond Santa Fe and running the table on the regular season, the Huskies begin 6A regional postseason play Thursday against Capitol Hill (Oklahoma City).
25. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
Record: 20-5 |
Last week: NR
Led by UConn commit
Qadence Samuels, the Mustangs have won their last 17. All five losses came to teams ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25.
On the bubble: Fishers (Ind.), 26-2;
Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.), 21-2;
Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.), 30-1;
Coppell (Texas) 33-3;
McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.), 21-2
